THE HUNT

Now that it’s hunting season on N. Padre Island Dana has had to use patience to capture on camera the elusive Texas Hunter.  They are very camera shy and permission for close-ups are not very easy to get.

Two Hunters In The Distance

Single Hunter Scampers Off

WEDDING BELLS

The boys, Thomas and Didymus, have attracted the attention of a local Texas cowgirl.  It appears she hasn’t made up her mind just yet but wedding bells are in the air.  Dad seems to think it’s going to be Thomas but the jury is still out for lunch.

Lone Star Cowgirl

CORDLESS WONDER

Back on Friday, 18 November 2011, we spent much of the day getting no-where as our van kept sinking.  Dana tried to cut a heavy plank that had washed up with his hacksaw but wasn’t getting anywhere.  James stopped by to see if we needed help.  I think he thought we were stuck.  But, he did have his cordless saws-all with him and was happy to slice the plank into several pieces.  But that didn’t help … that’s when we realized we were stuck.  So, James pulled us out.  We repacked the driveway and drove back in.

Then on 17 December 2011 when our van would not start and it was cold and windy James reappeared to see if we were O.K.  He gave us several bottles of water and wished us well.  At that time, the repair shop was closed and we were already expecting a tow on Monday which never materialized due to bad weather and very high tides.  Thanks James!

 

SAND SCULPTURE

Wind & Rain

Sand Sculpture

Dune-buggy Hill

N. Padre Island

RÉGEAN

We’re still playing catch-up … On 20 October 2011 Régean drove up and introduced himself while Dad and I were sitting out on the beach (N. Padre Island).  He was from Canada and was enroute to Mexico.  During the previous week a hurricane dropped rain upon the mountains flooding his river front trailer in Mexico.  The next day he hurried off to Mexico to salvage what he could.  Before he left he gave us directions, a current road map of Mexico, and invited us to stop and visit with him in Mexico.

 Dad And Régean

BEACH TREASURE

The word is out that a Spanish wreck washed up “three miles south of the Bob Hall Pier” during a 1967 hurricane and, then disappeared beneath the sand and waves of Padre Island.  So far, we’ve found a few coins on the beach without a metal detector.  See photo:

Total $1.57 (US)

Plus a few more quarters

Not shown

(We spent them already)

MAROONED

On 10-11 December 2011 it rained cats and dogs.  It was the first really good rain we’ve experienced since we’ve been camped on N. Padre Island.  After the rain let up we were unable to start our vehicle.  Yes, we were now marooned.  During the next week we walked to town several times trying to get parts from the Island Tire & Automotive repair shop.  The second time, Bill drove us back and eliminated several potential causes like the fuel pump but that’s all he could do out on the beach.  We needed to get a tow to the asphalt in Corpus Christi before he could tow us on the roadway for a nominal fee.  And you guessed right, towing companies charge big bucks to tow cars off the beach.

 

 

 

That Thursday evening (15 December 2011), Dylan and his friend Cameron happened to stop for a chat driving a 4X4 truck with large wide tires.  Dylan didn’t have his chain with him and was going out of town for a funeral but promised to return Monday to tow us off the beach.

When Monday came along naturally the tides were too high to be towed off the beach.  Then on Tuesday morning Dana found a sign leaning up against our van that someone had sneaked into place.  It said, “PLEASE NEED TOW TO PIER”.

 

On Tuesday, Dad sent Dana into town on an errand but about a mile down the beach Dana met Michael Williams author of “A GAME, A STUDY, A STORY”.

 aGameaStudyaStory@gmail.com

Michael walked back with Dana to our van and surveyed the situation and agreed to give us a tow Wednesday morning after he packed up camp.

On 21 December 2011 we received a tow to Island Tire & Automotive which replaced the coil in our ignition system.  So, almost two weeks without wheels makes you appreciate having them.

 

 

 

 

Catching Up With "ZZ-Top"

While camped at Mile Zero people kept dropping by wanting to get their photo taken with “ZZ-Top”.  Most said they would email us a copy but few did:

Getting Around To Posting

Old Photos Taken At Mile Zero With:

Chris Milligan
CJM Properties
13098 Dunn Rd

Bremond, Tx 76629

Nick Meyer

Corpus Christi, Texas

Photo From Brittni Watson

Photos From Melissa

North Of Bob Hall Pier

CAUSE OF N. PADRE ISLAND FIRE

In the previous post it was cited that Dad shouted to me, "The Island Is On Fire" … You’re your Camera" in the wee hours of 2 December 2011.  As it turned out, the fire was caused when a night time dune ride in a fairly new Jeep Wrangler ended up stuck on a sandy ridge with both front and rear wheels dangling above the ground.  The driver was driving too slow otherwise he would have gone completely over the ridge.  The Jeep's hot exhaust, etc. must have ignited the tinder dry grass under the vehicle.  The driver, probably "feeling no pain" at 3:30 AM, Friday morning, never realized that a fire had been kindled under his vehicle until it was too late.  We can just imagine him grabbing his vehicle's paperwork from the glove box and jumping out with fire licking his heels.

In case you are wondering, the dune buggy cove is about a mile south of our campsite and is a favorite hang-out for locals who have carved miles of trails up and down ever changing dunes for their 4 wheel drive vehicles.

FIRE BUGS ON PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS

Campfires, bonfires, etc. are permitted on Padre Island beaches except during times of drought or otherwise posted.  Dana waited too late before getting this photo … it was taken after their big blaze had burned down.

Nearby Campfire

The interesting thing is that a wood cross atop the nearby hill of sand is now missing.  Hummm!  Someone may have needed firewood.

Then, in the wee hours of 1 December 2011 we awoke when a Police car went north down the beach and sounded his chirper with his red flashing light in the middle of the night.  Then, we saw lights flashing in the window and looked to see way to the south.  The sky was orange over the dunes.  So, Dad went to the top of the dunes and ran back saying "the Island was on fire" … "Get your camera".  At the time, it stretched over a mile long.  But, as it turned out the fire was too far away to get a good picture at night now about 4:30 AM.